System and Method for Equipment Management

Abstract

A method for managing equipment may include operating one or more equipment units, tracking operating data for the one or more equipment units, tracking equipment service data for the one or more equipment units, communicating the operating data and the equipment service data to a database, maintaining the operating data and the equipment service data at the database, operating one or more point of sale interfaces for processing customer orders, communicating customer order data from the point of sale interfaces to the database, maintaining customer order data at the database, and calculating estimated service dates for one or more of the equipments units. The calculation of estimated service dates may be based on the operating data, the equipment service data, and the customer order data.

1 . A method for managing equipment comprising:
 operating one or more equipment units;   tracking operating data for the one or more equipment units;   tracking equipment service data for the one or more equipment units;   communicating the operating data and the equipment service data to a database;   maintaining the operating data and the equipment service data at the database;   operating one or more point of sale interfaces for processing customer orders;   communicating customer order data from the point of sale interfaces to the database;   maintaining customer order data at the database; and   calculating estimated service dates for one or more of the equipments units, wherein calculation of the estimated service dates is based on the operating data, the equipment service data, and the customer order data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating service reports including the estimated service dates. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the service reports include estimated service dates for equipment units having estimated service dates over a selected period. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating the service reports comprises generating the service reports on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the service reports comprises generating the service reports in response to an occurrence of a triggering event. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein time until an estimated service date falling below a predetermined threshold defines the triggering event. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein any or all of the operating data, the equipment service data, and the customer order information are communicated remotely to the database. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment units comprise commercial fryers. 
     
     
         9 . A equipment management system comprising:
 one or more equipment units;   one or more point of sale interfaces configured to process customer orders;   one or more user interfaces configured to receive equipment service data;   a database for storing system information, the database being in electronic communication with one or more of the equipment units such that equipment operating data is stored to the database, one or more of the point of sale interfaces such that customer order information is stored to the database, and one or more of the user interfaces such that equipment service data is stored to the data; and   a central processor operatively associated with the database and including software configured to calculate estimated service dates, the calculations being based on the equipment operating data, customer order data, and equipment service data.   
     
     
         10 . The equipment management system of  claim 9 , the software being further configured to generate service reports including the estimated service dates. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment management system of  claim 10 , wherein the service reports include estimated service dates for equipment units having estimated service dates over a selected period. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment management system of  claim 10 , the software being further configured to generate the service reports on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         13 . The equipment management system of  claim 10 , the software being further configured to generate the service reports in response to an occurrence of a triggering event. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein time until an estimated service date falling below a predetermined threshold defines the triggering event. 
     
     
         15 . The equipment management system of  claim 9 , wherein the equipment operating data comprises information related to any or all of number of uses, type of use, duration of use, and operating conditions of the equipment units, or components thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The equipment management system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the equipment units is at a location remote from a location of the central processor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein any or all of the operating data, the equipment service data, and the customer order information are communicated remotely to the database. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment units comprise commercial fryers.